Certain unincorporated areas of Scott County have a history of flooding due to their location in the watersheds of the Wapsipinicon and Mississippi Rivers and Spencer Creek. Any development in designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (as identified by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency) must apply for a Floodplain Development Permit.  All structures, including those deemed agriculturally exempt, are subject to floodplain development standards enforced by the Zoning Administrator.

Using the form at the bottom of the page (FLOODPLAIN DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION), applicants may petition the Zoning Administrator for approval for development within a designation Special Flood Hazard Area. The application fee is $30, and applications may be submitted at any time. Simple requests may be approved in a few business days, but many projects require review and comment by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and/or the Iowa Department of Natural Resources depending on the location and unique circumstances.

Helpful Links:

• FEMA, Flood Preparedness and Safety: https://www.ready.gov/floods
• Iowa State University Extension, Flood Recovery: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/disasterrecovery/flooding
• University of Iowa, Iowa Flood Center: https://iowafloodcenter.uiowa.edu/
• Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Floodplain Development Permits: https://www.iowadnr.gov/Environmental-Protection/Land-Quality/Flood-Plain-Management/Flood-Plain-Dev-Permits
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Floodplain Development Permits: https://www.usace.army.mil/missions/civil-works/Regulatory-Program-and-permits/Obtain-a-Permit/